Press Releases
Miller: Democrats successful in removing damaging rollbacks in compromise funding bill
12.16.11 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statement on legislation to fund the federal government through the rest of the fiscal year. "This funding bill is not perfect. It is a compromise. But it is important to note that Democrats secured critical and hard-fought changes in the final bill. "First, Democrats were able to remove nearly 100 repugnant and damaging public policy rollbacks that had n… Continue Reading
Miller: Early Learning Challenge Funds Will Make a Real Difference for Children and Families
12.16.11 WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced today that nine states, including California, won federal funding in the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge competition. Miller has been a longtime advocate and champion for early education. In 2009, he introduced legislation to create the Early Learning Challenge … Continue Reading
Nation's Labor Law Worked to Protect Workers Rights and Jobs in Boeing Case
12.09.11 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), issued the following statement after the National Labor Relations Board announced that they have ended their case against Boeing after workers ratified a new four-year agreement with the company. “Seventy six years ago, Congress gave our nation’s workers the right to organize together and bargain for a better life. The agreement reached between Boeing and workers in Washington demonstrates that the law that protects workers’ rights is vital to our… Continue Reading
Bill Would Dismantle National Commitment to Job Training and Educational Assistance, Say Top House Democrats
12.08.11 WASHINGTON - Leading House workforce training and education advocates spoke out strongly today against legislation introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) to dismantle the national commitment to the millions of Americans seeking job assistance, skills assessment, career counseling, and job training programs. H.R. 3610 would eliminate a number of programs that target populations of high unemployment with high need of services and instead block-grant funding to states without meaningful accountabi… Continue Reading
Miller, Woolsey Statement on Upper Big Branch Report and Settlement
12.06.11 WASHINGTON - Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), leaders in mine safety in the U.S. House of Representatives, issued the following statements today after the release of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration’s accident investigation in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion that killed 29 miners in April 2010. In conjunction with the MSHA report, a $209 million non-prosecution agreement was reached by the United States Attorney with Alpha Natural Resources, which acqui… Continue Reading
New Dept. of Ed guidance will ensure flexibility and promote diversity in the classroom, Miller says
12.02.11 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Education issued new guidance to support voluntary efforts to promote diversity in primary, secondary and postsecondary classrooms. The guidance was issued in order to clarify existing law and three recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that addressed the consideration of race by some educational institutions. "Our nation … Continue Reading
GOP pushes through another bill to weaken the middle class by rolling back workers’ rights
11.30.11 WASHINGTON - House Republicans pushed through special-interest legislation today designed to dramatically weaken workers’ right to a free and fair union representation election. H.R. 3094, more aptly named the “Election Prevention Act” would weaken the middle class by frustrating the ability of workers to band together and bargain for more of the wealth they create. “For more than 75 years, the ultimate decision to form or belong to a union belonged to the workers themselves. And the exercise o… Continue Reading
“Seriously Deficient” Handling of UAL Bankruptcy by PBGC and Contractor, Detailed Evaluation Shows
11.30.11 WASHINGTON - An evaluation released today by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s Inspector General found that the processing of United Airlines’ terminated pension plans beginning in 2004 was seriously deficient due to systemic failures in auditing the plans, citing a number of errors and omissions committed by PBGC’s outside contractors and PBGC itself. The detailed evaluation was initiated in response to a 2009 request by Rep. George Miller (D-CA). These errors may have affected pen… Continue Reading
House Passes Bipartisan Reforms to Federal Workers' Compensation Program
11.29.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives approved bipartisan legislation today on a voice vote to strengthen and reform the existing federal workers' compensation program. “Workers and their families should be no better off, nor worse off, because of a disabling injury or death caused by while in service to the federal government. This bill preserves and protects that commitment,” said Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat of the Education and the Workforce Committee. “I am e… Continue Reading
Miller Demands NLRB Member Hayes’ Documents Regarding Improper Efforts to Shut Down the Board
11.23.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, today demanded communications of National Labor Relations Board member Brian Hayes discussing his resignation, future employment, or any enticements by private parties he has received to encourage his resignation and effectively shut down the NLRB. “I have read reports of special interest organizations and individuals calling on you to resign precisely to incapacitate the Board.… Continue Reading
Miller: Anti-Worker, Anti-Family Bill is Ohio and Wisconsin Wrapped up in One
11.18.11 WASHINGTON - Below are the remarks as delivered of Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, on the House floor debate on H.R. 3094, legislation to take away workers' rights to a workplace representation election. *** ; "Seventy-five years ago, this nation decided it is a matter of right and matter of law that the decision of whether or not workers wanted to union belong to those workers. And this Congress passed National Labor Rela… Continue Reading
Miller Calls for Hearings in the Wake of Heinous Abuse Claims at Penn State and the Citadel
11.17.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today asked Chairman John Kline (R-MN) to call a hearing to examine whether federal laws specifically designed to protect children and students require changes. “Potential weaknesses in specific laws designed to keep children safe have come to light in the wake of the alleged sexual crimes committed on the campuses of the Pennsylvania State University and the Citadel,” wrote Miller… Continue Reading
GAO: More data needed to monitor distance learning programs
11.17.11 WASHINGTON - In a report released today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that more “pertinent, up-to-date data” is needed to bolster oversight of distance education programs. "Distance education programs can expand access to postsecondary education for some of our most disadvantaged students. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to protect the integrity of these programs and the student and taxpayer investments in them,” said Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Ruben Hinojosa … Continue Reading
Miller to GOP: Drop your special interest crusade and work to tackle our nation’s real problems
11.17.11 WASHINGTON - Below are the prepared remarks of Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, before the Rules Committee on the consideration of H.R. 3094, the more appropriately named “Election Prevention Act.” House floor debate on the rule is expected to begin Friday morning. “Chairman Dreier, Ranking Member Slaughter and members of the Rules Committee, thank you for allowing me to testify. I must begin by saying that I am disappoint… Continue Reading
Miller: Audit Raises Troubling Questions about Whether Americans are Receiving Accurate Benefits from Federal Agency
11.16.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s Inspector General released an audit that uncovered a number of serious internal control weaknesses within the agency, resulting in “errors in valuation of plan assets” and “errors in benefit calculations.”“The independent auditor’s report raises deeply troubling questions about whether retirees receiving… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on First Round of States Applying for Flexibility from No Child Left Behind
11.15.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced that 11 states submitted applications for flexibility in the form of waivers from No Child Left Behind. In exchange for a waiver, states had to agree to adopt common-sense reforms that include college and career ready standards, new accountability, school improvement systems and meaningful teacher an… Continue Reading
Democrats Introduce Jobs Bill to Address Long-Term and Youth Unemployment
11.15.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA) and other Democrats of the House Education and the Workforce Committee introduced legislation today to help out-of-work Americans get a job and gain the skills needed to be successful in the global economy. "With more Americans counted in the ranks of the long-term unemployed, Congress should be doing everything it can to get America back to work. Because we know the longer workers go without a job, the more difficult it becomes for them to ever find a job… Continue Reading
Miller Statement on New Head Start Regulations
11.08.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee and original co-author of The Improving Head Start Act of 2007, today released the following statement after President Obama announced regulations that would require low quality Head Start centers to reapply and compete for their federal funding. The new rule stems directly from policy that Miller included in the legislation and will result in improved services for children in H… Continue Reading
Miller: Ohio Voters Send Clear Message to Washington GOP
11.08.11 WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after Ohio voters today overwhelmingly rejected an effort to severely curtail the collective bargaining rights of public-sector workers. “Voters in Ohio sent a clear message tonight: It’s time for Republicans to end their single-minded obsession with busting unions. For far too long, Republicans have chosen to ignore our nation’s economic problems and… Continue Reading
Woolsey: Oppose Efforts to Weaken Minimum Wage and Overtime Protections
11.03.11 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Below are the remarks of U.S. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Workforce Protections Subcommittee for the hearing on the Wage and Hour Division’s enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act. For testimony or video of the hearing, click here. Woolsey is also the author of legislation to rein in the misclassification of employees as independent contractors. *** Mr. Chairman, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was passed nearly 80 years ago to ensure that wo… Continue Reading